Heated food package



I Aug. 19, 1947. R. L. STEVEN HEATED FOOD PACKAGE Filed May 12, 1944 rINVENTOR. RAY 1.. STEWN ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 19, 1947 UNlTED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to article packaging and more especially to apackage for food containers adapted to be heated prior to opening thefood container.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical andinexpensive food package of the character described.

Another object is to provide a food package having exothermic propertiesupon the addition of water to a chemical therein contained.

An additional object is to provide a food package adapted to beself-heating and adapted to receive standard food containers.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fullyin the following specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation View in central section of an embodiment of myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the expansible wall shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the lower portion of amodified form of the invention, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing I show a food packagecomprising a shell lil having spaced wall portions ll adapted to retaintherewithin a heat insulating material l2 such as asbestos or theequivalent, there being an annular opening 13 at the bottom forinterfitting engagement with a bottom disc M of a construction similarto shell I6 and adapted to provide support for a supporting disc memberI5. Disc I 5 has an annular flange l5 and a space I! provided withlateral openings or passages l8 as shown. A standard food container 1 9which may comprise a metallic can or the like is adapted to bepositioned on flange l6, and a substantially cylindrical expander 20 ispositioned between shell Ill and container l9, and provided with atongue and groove connection iii to permit the wall portion thereof toexpand. A space 22 is provided between shell I!) and expander 20 toprovide room for expansion of the expander and within the expander is acartridge or sleeve 23 composed of lime or other suitable chemicalwhich, when water is added thereto, will generate heat which isconducted into can I9 but is prevented by the insulating properties ofshell l6 and disc l4 from escaping.

A cover receptacle 24 is shown as having a flange portion 25 for the topof shell l9 and an annular flange 26 positioned above cartridge 23. Aplurality of holes 2! are formed through receptacle 24 providingpassages for the flow of water 28 which may be placed in receptacle Z4and conducted to and into the space containing the chemical 23. Cover 24is provided with a neck 29 having a bore 30 which gives access to thetop of can l9 for puncturing with a suitable tool in order to permit theescaping of air pressure developed within the can I9 when heated.

The operation-of the invention as thus described should be clear. Thepackage in dry condition is readily transportable and adapted to receiveany standard can [9 suitable for the size of the package, and when it isdesired to heat the can a quantity of water is placed in receptacle 2which passes through holes 21 into the chemical compartment 23, formingan efiervescing solution which is exothermic, a portion of which passesthrough passages l8 into space H, thus heating the side portions andbottom of the can. This efi'ervescing solution expands and thus expandsexpander 20 into space 22. Before or during the heating process the topof the can may be punctured by a sharp pointed tool inserted throughneck 29 to permit the escape of air pressure within the can.

The package may be used repeatedly by pressing the bottom disc l4upwardly to remove the spent cartridge 23 which may be replaced with afresh cartridge.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I show a modified form of the invention which comprisesa shell 3| of any suitable thin walled material on a base 32 whichlatter supports a spacer block 33 for support of a can 34. Block 33 hasa plurality of lateral passages 35 which lead between a central chamber33a and an external space. Immediately within shell 3! is a corrugatedWall 36 positioned in an expansion chamber or space and an exothermiccartridge 31 is positioned between wall 36 and can 34.

This package may be made exothermic in substantially the manner shown inFig. 1 by suitably supplying water to cartridge 31 which becomes anefiervescent solution, a portion of which passes through passages 35into chamber 330. below can 34, the expansion of which solution mayoccur in the space formed by the envelope of corrugated wall 36 or bydeforming the same.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

l. A heated food package as described comprising an insulating shellhaving a cavity to receive a food container, a food container in saidcavity, a chemical cartridge around said container, a wall forming anexpansion chamber between said cartridge and said shell, and a cover andreceptacle element for water having aperture means to convey water tothe chemical cartridge, said cover having a neck adapted to expose aportion of the top of the food container for puncturing.

2. A heated food package as described comprising an insulating shellhaving a cavity to receive a food container, a food container in saidcavity, a chemical cartridge around said container, a Wall forming anexpansion chamber between said cartridge and said shell, and a cover andreceptacle element for water having means to convey water to thechemical cartridge, said shell having a removable bottom Wall section tofacilitate replacement of said chemical cartridge and food container.

RAY L. STEVEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,622,494 Granston Mar. 29,1927 Number Number Name Date Simmons Apr. '7, 1936 Friedman et a1. Aug.6, 1907 Zimmer et a1. Aug. 28, 1934 Katz Dec. 8, 1941 Martin Nov. 3,1942 Katz Apr. 6, 1943 Gabriel May 15, 1906 Lakenback Dec. 5, 1939FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 190'] Great Britain Sept. 23,1938 France Dec. 27, 1909 France Am. 4. 1936

